University of San Francisco women's basketball legend
Mary Hile-Nepfel enters her second season as sole head coach of the Lady
Dons and her 15th season at the controls of the women’s basketball fortunes
on the Hilltop. Hile-Nepfel was named sole head coach of the University of
San Francisco following the 1999-2000 season, taking charge of a program she
directed to national prominence with her husband Bill Nepfel for 13 seasons.
Last season was the 25th Anniversary of Lady Dons basketball and Hile-Nepfel
also reached several impressive milestones of her own during the silver
anniversary year. With a convincing 105-51 pasting of UC Riverside in the
2000-2001 season opener, Hile-Nepfel became the all-time winningest coach in
program history with her 197th victory. When the Lady Dons downed Cal Poly,
Hile-Nepfel became just the third coach in USF athletics history to surpass
200 career wins. An 88-60 West Coast Conference win against Gonzaga was the
100th league win for Hile-Nepfel, who became just the fourth coach in
conference history to eclipse the century mark.
Hile-Nepfel, the first All-American in Lady Dons basketball history, is
one of just seven players to have a number retired in the rafters of War
Memorial Gym. Hile-Nepfel was also the first woman to be inducted into the
USF Hall of Fame in 1985.
USF Basketball Legend: Mary Hile-Nepfel has a passion for the USF women's
basketball program and has proudly represented the university as both a
player and a coach for a good portion of the last 24 years. Just six seasons
after completing an All-American playing career with the Lady Dons in 1981,
Hile-Nepfel returned to the Hilltop campus in 1987 along with her husband,
Bill Nepfel, to become USF's co-head coaches. Their success as one of just a
handful of husband-wife coaching tandems in the country was highlighted by
three consecutive WCC Tournament Championships followed by three straight
trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Hile-Nepfel, now in her 15th season, and second as sole head coach, faces
the challenge of leading Lady Dons basketball into the future with the same
characteristic enthusiasm and drive as she demonstrated during her playing
days. Mary's intensity on the court and her strong will to win characterized
her as a player and are the same traits she instills in her players today.
Postseason success: Her biggest coaching highlights came during a
three-year stretch from 1994-97. USF won three consecutive WCC Tournament
titles, as well as a pair of regular season championships, and made three
straight trips to the NCAA Tournament during this period. Hile-Nepfel has
twice been named WCC Coach of the Year (1989-90, 1994-95). As a duo, she and
Bill also earned District 8 Converse Coach of the Year honors and were
finalists for the Associated Press National Coach of the Year in 1994-95.
Hile-Nepfel boasts a 209-183 record in her 14 seasons as a collegiate head
coach, all at USF. The Nepfels collected their 190th career win two years
ago when USF upset defending Pac-10 champion #18 Oregon on January 2, 2000.
Rise to National Prominence: In 1993, Hile-Nepfel was selected to be an
assistant coach for the East team in the Olympic Sports Festival held in San
Antonio, Texas. She helped guide that team to a silver medal finish. The
memories were fond for Hile-Nepfel, who in 1978 was selected to participate
on the West squad in the first Olympic Festival in Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
The Makings of Legend On The Hilltop Throughout her legendary playing
career on the Hilltop and now as a top coach, Hile-Nepfel is no stranger to
achieveing excellence at the highest level. She was a two-time All-American
at USF and was twice a finalist for the Wade Trophy, awarded to the nation's
top collegiate player. She is the leading scorer in USF history (female or
male) with 2,324 points. In 1985, Hile-Nepfel became the first woman
inducted into the USF Hall of Fame. Her jersey No. 15 is retired alongside
those of other USF hoops greats Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, Bill Cartwright,
Mike Farmer, Phil Smith and Brittany Lindhe, as well as coaches Pete Newell
and Phil Woolpert. The USF record book is owned by Hile-Nepfel. She
currently holds 11 career, nine single-season and five single-game records.
Hile-Nepfel excelled in the classroom as well, earning academic
All-American honors twice and receiving the Anne Dolan Award as USF's
outstanding female student-athlete in both 1979 and 1981. She has been
nominated for the Academic All-American Hall of Fame.
Beginning the coaching journey: Following her graduation from the Hilltop
in 1981 with a degree in sports administration, Mary played professional
basketball in Italy. She entered coaching as an assistant at Long Beach
State in 1982. During her three seasons at Long Beach State, the 49ers won
two conference championships and advanced to three NCAA regional finals.
While at Long Beach State, she earned her master's degree in physical
education. Hile-Nepfel joined the coaching staff at the University of Hawaii
in 1985 as an assistant. The following year she moved to Chaminade
University, where she served as assistant athletic director.
Community involvement: Hile-Nepfel is a past member of the Women's
Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors and served as the Division
I representative for the West Region. Mary is also active in the community,
serving as a guest speaker for various events, helping with fund-raising
efforts for local high school sports at an annual San Francisco celebrity
luncheon, and coaching in basketball clinics for both girls and boys
throughout California. In addition, she heads the annual Mary Hile
Basketball Camp, held at USF each summer.
Mary Hile-Nepfel Coaching File: 15th Season as Head Coach 209 Career
Victories - Most in USF Women’s Basketball History 102 West Coast Conference
Victories Three NCAA Tournament Berths 1996 NCAA Sweet 16 District VIII
Coach of the Year - 1994-95 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year 1989-90
& 1994-95 Assistant Coaching Stops: Long Beach State (1982-85) & Hawai'i
(1985-86)
Mary Hile-Nepfel Playing File: Kodak Regional All-American - 1978-79,
1979-80 & 1980-81 Academic All-American - 1979-80 & 1980-81 All-Northern
California Athletic Conference 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80 & 1980-81 USF's
All-Time Basketball (Men's & Women's) Leading Scorer - 2,324 career points
Career Rebounds - 1,602 Field Goals Made - 970 Professional Basketball
Player - Italy (1981) USF Hall of Famer (1986) #15 Retired (1981)
